On This Day (Dec. 30)

Notable events from NBA history that occurred on December 30.

Dec 30, 2022

LeBron James’ Birthday

On this day in 1984, LeBron James was born in Akron, Ohio. An 18-time All-Star, four-time MVP, four-time NBA champion, and member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, James has career averages of 27.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG, and 7.3 APG in 1,393 games.

James — who has been named Finals MVP four times — is the only player in NBA history to win the award for three different franchises (Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers).

James averaged 30.1 PPG in 59 games as a 37-year-old, almost 7.0 PPG more than the next-closest player (Karl Malone, 23.2 PPG). James also averaged 8.5 RPG and 6.2 APG over that span. Other than James in 2021-22, only three players in NBA history have averaged at least 30 PPG, 8 RPG, and 6 APG for a full season (a total of six instances):

Oscar Robertson (1960-61, 1961-62, 1963-94, 1964-65)
Michael Jordan (1988-89)
Russell Westbrook (2016-17)

The oldest player above is Westbrook, who was 28 years old at the end of the 2016-17 season.

The highest scoring average in NBA history by a player in his 20th season belongs to Kobe Bryant (17.6 PPG, 2015-16). James is averaging 27.8 PPG in this, his 20th season.

James has averaged at least 25 PPG, 5 RPG, and 5 APG in each of his last 18 seasons (not including 2022-23), the longest such streak in NBA history by a whopping 10 seasons (Oscar Robertson, 8).

Skiles Sets Assist Record

On this day in 1990, the Orlando Magic’s Scott Skiles set an NBA single-game record by dishing out 30 assists in a 155-116 win over the Denver Nuggets. The previous mark of 29 assists was held by Kevin Porter (Feb. 24, 1978). Skiles’ record still stands today.

Skiles — who also scored 22 points on 7-13 shooting from the field — either scored or assisted on 37 field goals for the Magic. No NBA player has matched or exceeded that total since.

Wilt’s 40-Point Streak

On this day in 1961, the Philadelphia Warriors’ Wilt Chamberlain had 41 points and 28 rebounds in a loss to the Boston Celtics. It was the last of 14 consecutive 40-point games for Chamberlain, the longest such streak in NBA history (he matched it later that season):

14 — Wilt Chamberlain (Dec. 8, 1961–Dec. 30, 1961)
14 — Chamberlain (Jan. 11, 1962–Feb. 1, 1962)
10 — Chamberlain (Nov. 9, 1962–Nov. 25, 1962)
9 — Michael Jordan (Nov. 28, 1986–Dec. 12, 1986)
9 — Kobe Bryant (Feb. 6, 2003–Feb. 23, 2003)

Chamberlain — who averaged an NBA-record 50.4 PPG that season — scored at least 40 points in 63 of his 80 games (78.75%).

Jordan Surpasses Kareem

On this day in 1997, the Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan scored 33 points in a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was his 788th consecutive regular-season game scoring in double figures, breaking a tie with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the longest such streak in NBA history.

Jordan’s streak was eventually snapped at 866 games, which is now the second-longest such streak in NBA history:

1,123 — LeBron James (Jan. 6, 2007–present)
866 — Michael Jordan (March 25, 1986–Dec. 26, 2001)
787 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Dec. 4, 1977–Dec. 2, 1987)
575 — Karl Malone (Dec. 18, 1991–March 26, 1999)
562 — Kevin Durant (March 14, 2009–Feb. 27, 2017)

If you combine the regular season and postseason, Jordan still owns the longest streak of double-digit scoring games in NBA history:

1,041 — Michael Jordan (March 25, 1986–Dec. 26, 2001)
675 — Karl Malone (Dec. 18, 1991–March 26, 1999)
665 — LeBron James (May 30, 2014–present)
653 — Kevin Durant (March 14, 2009–Feb. 27, 2017)
577 — Moses Malone (Nov. 4, 1978–March 4, 1985)

Lakers Finish Perfect Month

On this day in 1971, the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Seattle SuperSonics 122-106 to cap off a perfect 16-0 month. At the time, it was the best record in a calendar month in NBA history. The mark was tied several times before finally being surpassed by the Atlanta Hawks in January 2015:

17-0 — Atlanta Hawks, January 2015
16-0 — Los Angeles Lakers, December 1971
16-0 — San Antonio Spurs, March 1996
16-0 — Los Angeles Clippers, December 2012
16-0 — San Antonio Spurs, March 2014
16-0 — Golden State Warriors, November 2015
16-0 — Phoenix Suns, November 2021

This was also the Lakers’ 30th consecutive victory, a streak that eventually reached 33 games. It’s the longest winning streak in NBA history by five games.

James Celebrates in Style

On this day in 2009, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James celebrated his 25th birthday in style, scoring 48 points in a 106-101 win over the Atlanta Hawks. It's the third-highest point total in NBA history by a player on his birthday:

61 — Shaquille O’Neal (March 6, 2000)
53 — Dominique Wilkins (Jan. 12, 1987)
48 — LeBron James (Dec. 30, 2009)
47 — Stephen Curry (March 14, 2022)
46 — Michael Jordan (Feb. 17, 1992)
46 — Anthony Davis (March 11, 2017)

James also compiled 10 rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two blocks, shooting 15-23 from the field (65.2%) and 14-16 from the free throw line (87.5%). He’s the only player in NBA history to record at least 40 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists on his birthday.